Island schools get an ‘A’ on report card

Good report card for the district

by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, April 29, 2005

Grand Island schools have “aced” their report cards from the state.

Students met or exceeded state standards at all levels in English, math and science on the standard fourth- and eighth-grade tests.

That means the school district is doing a good job of teaching the skills the state is testing.

“I couldn’t feel more proud of your efforts on behalf of our kids,” Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ramming told district administrators, principals and faculty.

The positive academic news was introduced by Dr. Karen Karmazin, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, at Monday’s School Board meeting.

Karmazin also highlighted the district’s financial profile as top-notch. The district has a lower per-pupil cost than the rest of Erie County. That, multiplied by the 3,190 students in the district, means better results at a lower cost than comparable school districts.

Following her report were individual presentations by principals from four schools: Kaegebein and Huth Road elementary schools, Veronica Connor Middle School and Grand Island High School.

Middle School Principal Bruce Benson highlighted a change in philosophy on test results.

“We used to say, ‘How did the kids do?’ Now, we look at where the gaps are in the curriculum” He said technology has helped in better student achievement.

Benson and Middle School Assistant Principal Carl Guidotti said they have looked into more collaborative teaching for students with disabilities and have sought more content-oriented special education teachers to help with the sub-group of students with learning disabilities.

Kaegebein Elementary Principal John J. Wiertel cut to the core meaning of the scores: “In effect, they are all reading tests.”

Huth Road Elementary Principal Mary Haggerty said her school has piloted an inclusion program to address the needs of special education students and offered after-school tutoring prior to the English Language Arts state tests.

High School Principal James Dempsey said, “We are a K-12 district,” explaining that the good teaching that happens in the early grades is a contributor to students’ success in later grades.

To explain the ratings:

•A student whose test score is at Level 3 is meeting standards

•A student whose test score is at Level 4 is exceeding standards.

•At Level 2, students are beginning to meet standards.

•Level 1 students are failing to meet standards. Many of these students already receive services through Special Education.

English Scores Up

English Language Arts showed an upward trend for 2003-04 at all levels for students meeting or exceeded proficiency -- in other words -- the total number of students achieving Levels 3 and 4.

•Grade 4 tests showed a slight increase in the percentage of students scoring at Levels 3 and 4 from 77 percent in 2001 to 79 percent in 2003-04.

•In the Middle School, the percentage of students whose eighth-grade tests scores were at Level 3 and 4 jumped from 54 percent in 2001 to 70 percent in 2004.

•In the High School, the percentage of students who passed the English Regents exam increased from 82 percent in 2000 to 96 percent in 2004.

Math Scores Soar

•In elementary math, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards went from 83 percent in 2001 to 91 percent in 2004.

•In the Middle School, the percentage at or above standards went from 52 percent in 2001 to 80 percent in 2004.

•In the High School Regents Math A exam, the percentage of those passing increased from 80 percent in 2000 to 92 percent in 2004.

High Marks in Science

•In elementary tests administered in grade 4, 93 percent passed.

•In Middle School, the passing rate in the state science test was 96 percent.

•In the High School Regents Living Environment exam, 96 percent passed.

Social Studies Scores

•In elementary Social Studies tests, 92 percent of grade 5 students met or exceeded standards.

•In the middle school, 83 percent of grade 8 students scored at those levels.

•In the high school, 92 percent of Grand Island students passed the Regents exam in Global History and Geography, while 95 percent passed the Regents in U.S. History and Government.

Students must pass five Regents exams to graduate.

At-Risk Students

Karmazin made recommendations to the district to assist students who struggle at the elementary and middle school levels and are at risk of failing the Regents exams.

These include:

•Maintaining focus on early intervention and assessment in reading for students who require sustained support.

•Maintaining focus on meeting the instruction needs of students with disabilities, as a No Child Left Behind subgroup.

•Continuing focused AIS, or Academic Intervention Services with the endeavor of advancing high Level 2 students -- those needing extra help to meet the standards -- to becoming Level 3 students who meet the standards.

In Favor of Budget

In other news during the board meeting:

Grand Island businessman John Bruno, a resident since 1971, spoke in favor of the proposed $43.2 million budget. He said his children and grandchildren have attended district schools. “Obviously I’m happy with the product the schools produce,” he said. “I never like tax increases. Under 3 percent isn’t bad,” he said, of the district’s proposed 2.8 percent tax increase for 2005-06. “I’d accept it, and I just wanted to pass that along to everybody.”

Jobs Cut

The board’s budget proposal abolishes seven full-time positions: one in English, two in science, one in business, one in band and two in Social Studies. Ramming said the English teacher whose job was cut will be recalled to fill in as a long-term substitute. Two of those who are losing full-time positions will be offered part-time positions in the district next year.

Upcoming Meetings

The schedule of upcoming Board of Education meetings is:

•Monday, May 2, Candidates Night, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Middle School Little Theater.

•Monday, May 9, 6:30 p.m., 2005-06 Budget Hearing, Middle School Little Theater. Immediately following the hearing, there will be a regular Business meeting, also in the Little Theater.

•Tuesday, May 17, Budget vote and trustee election, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Gym.